Half-year Report

Half-Yearly Results for the six months ended 28 February 2019 (unaudited)

Financial Highlights:

The Board of Fidelity Special Values PLC (the “Company”) recommends an interim dividend payment of 2.10 pence per share, an increase of 13.5% over last year’s interim dividend.

The Company recorded a net asset value (“NAV”) total return of -6.1% for the six months ended 28 February 2019 and the FTSE All-Share Index (Benchmark Index) returned -3.7%. Both the NAV and share price performance remains well ahead of the FTSE All-Share Index over 3 and 5 years.

The premium narrowed from 1.5% to 0.9%, as a result of the share price total return of -6.7%.

The Company’s shares remain in high demand and continue to trade at a premium.

Portfolio Manager, Alex Wright, believes 2019 could turn into a surprisingly positive year for investors brave enough to buy UK equities before the good news happens.

The Portfolio Manager, Alex Wright’s, approach is very much in keeping with Fidelity Special Values PLC’s heritage and history – that of an actively managed, contrarian investment trust which the Board believes will be appealing to both existing and potential investors alike. Alex focuses on buying unloved companies with the prospect of positive change, rather than those that are merely cheap. He invests in companies of all sizes, and in doing so hopes to position the Company as the investment of choice for those seeking exposure to UK listed companies but with the benefit of investing 20% of the portfolio in listed companies on overseas exchanges.

Whilst performance in the first half of the reporting period has been more challenging, there has been a strong recovery since the half year end and long term performance remains well ahead of the Benchmark Index over 3 and 5 years. The Company’s shares remain in high demand and continue to trade at a premium.

In addition, we are pleased to report that the Company has won a number of prestigious industry awards.

Andy Irvine, Chairman

Portfolio Manager's Half-Yearly Review

Performance
In the six month period to 28 February 2019, the Company’s net asset value (“NAV”) per ordinary share returned -6.1% and the share price returned -6.7%, whilst the FTSE All-Share Index (the Company’s Benchmark Index) returned -3.7% (all returns on a total basis). Despite this short term performance, the Company’s NAV and share price total returns over three and five years remain well ahead of the Benchmark Index. Over three years, the NAV returned +37.2% and the share price returned +43.4% compared to a Benchmark return of +30.4%. For the five year period, the NAV returned +38.4% and the share price +45.0% against a Benchmark return of +27.6%.

The attribution analysis table below shows the factors that contributed to the Company’s NAV per share total return for the six months to 28 February 2019.

Analysis of the change in NAV total return for the period

(%)

Impact of:

Index

-3.7

Stock selection

-1.7

Gearing

-0.4

Operational Costs

-0.5

Cash

+0.2

---------------

Total return for the six months to 28 February 2019

-6.1

=========

Stock Market and Portfolio Review
The UK stock market saw mixed trends over the review period, falling sharply in the first half of the period before staging a recovery in 2019 to recoup some of the losses of the previous year. The Benchmark Index decline over the period of 3.7% was dominated by increasingly complex Brexit negotiations between the UK government and opposition parties, and concerns over global economic growth against a backdrop of the ongoing US-China trade frictions. After two years of double digit returns, the Benchmark Index fell by 9.5% on a total return basis in the 2018 calendar year; its worst annual performance since the financial crisis. However, hopes of an improvement in trade negotiations between the US and China led a rally in equities in 2019, with the Index returning 6.6% in the two months to the end of February 2019.

Overall, the global economy has continued to slow over recent months, with a broad-based softening across all regions. This has come about as a result of the tightening in global financial conditions, a weaker global demand environment, as well as the impact of trade tensions on business sentiment. The deceleration in global growth is expected to weigh on UK net trade, although markets expect more accommodative monetary policies in all major economies, which should support the economic outlook. UK economic growth slowed in late 2018 and appears to have weakened further in early 2019. There is now considerable uncertainty over the medium term outlook, although this could ease once greater clarity emerges on the US-China trade negotiations and the future path of Brexit.

The deeply unloved status of the UK market has created an exceptionally fertile period for contrarian stock picking. One thing I have learnt from investing in unloved companies is that you should not necessarily wait for good news to become obvious before investing. By investing when all the bad news is ‘in the price’ and no good news is expected at all, you put the odds in your favour. I believe this is the situation we are in currently in the UK.

In terms of performance, the Company’s NAV underperformed the Benchmark Index in the reporting period. At a stock level, online gaming group GVC Holdings was the leading detractor weighed down by negative regulatory news. The Company’s investment in Citigroup fell amid concerns over its earnings in a worsening global economic scenario and falling bond yields. However, the bank’s recently announced fourth-quarter results showed profit growth that beat analysts’ expectations on better than anticipated expense declines and loan losses. It also has substantial excess capital and the business remains fundamentally strong. The negative sentiment in the sector also weighed down the holding in Bank of Ireland. Defence contractor Ultra Electronics was another notable detractor owing to a combination of worries surrounding Brexit, as well as Saudi Arabian and US military spending cuts. The company also has its own accounting concerns but it looks attractively valued, and its shares have risen considerably during March 2019. Shares in Royal Mail fell after the courier company warned that its full year earnings were expected to fall sharply as it had failed to meet its cost saving targets.

Despite the difficult environment, several of our key holdings across sectors made significant contributions, with stock selection in the healthcare and technology sectors being particularly successful. Notable contributors included infrastructure group John Laing, whose assets have increased strongly as its diversified portfolio of projects proved resilient. Outsourcing group Serco was another notable contributor after the company raised its 2019 profit and revenue forecasts, buoyed by a run of recent contract wins, and a good environment for pricing. The exposure to Swiss pharmaceuticals group Roche Holdings also added value after it was boosted by strong results from two drug trials, including one that showed potential as a first line cancer treatment. Not holding underperforming tobacco company British American Tobacco also enhanced relative performance. The allocation to software group Micro Focus International added value as a trading update for the last fiscal year suggested that revenue declines are moderating following a period of significant merger and acquisition execution issues which led to turbulent sales growth.

I continue to look for opportunities that can be found across the market, among international as well as domestic businesses. Following the further deterioration in sentiment towards the UK in the last quarter of 2018, I increased exposure to domestic UK stocks, recycling capital primarily from US-facing businesses. I do not have a differentiated view on the UK political or macroeconomic outlook. I acknowledge the risks here, but am interested in investing in domestic businesses if they can satisfy these criteria; a low valuation which reflects a worst case outlook, a strong balance sheet that can support the business through a period of earnings volatility, structurally sound markets, and a self help story independent of the UK macro environment. A permanent feature of my investment process is to look for companies that can ‘help themselves’ without relying on a rising macroeconomic tide. I will typically avoid companies where margins are at historic highs.

Use of Derivatives
During the review period, the Company continued to use contracts for difference (“CFDs”) to gear portfolio long exposure and to contract short positions. The previously opened hedge position on the FTSE 250 Index Future was again maintained.

As the Company had some gearing and the market fell in the review period, the use of derivatives was a detractor in the portfolio. Overall, gross gearing was at 6.9% at the end of February 2019, down from 10.4% at the start of the review period.

Outlook
A selective approach remains important. Not all UK stocks are equally attractive, and although many domestic businesses are being unfairly ignored, others are structurally compromised or financially unsound and therefore best avoided. I am happy buying unloved domestic stocks if I can see a balance sheet that can withstand a period of economic weakness, and a valuation that gives me some margin of safety. Attractive valuations can be found across the market, in large and small companies, both international and domestic-facing. My process rests on identifying unloved companies with the potential for positive change. The number of unloved companies available to choose makes me believe that 2019 could turn into a surprisingly positive year for investors brave enough to buy UK equities before the good news happens.

As ever, I will be spending my time researching and meeting with the management of companies, looking for those that offer some degree of downside protection but also potential for a positive change to show them in a new light. In my experience, this is the best way to deliver capital growth over the long term.

Alex Wright
Portfolio Manager
30 April 2019

Interim Management Report

Management Fee
As reported in the Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2018, the Company has a new fee arrangement in place, with effect from 1 September 2018, which provides a reduction from the previous fee structure. The previous fee of 0.875% of net assets has been replaced by a tiered fee basis which is 0.85% on the first £700 million of net assets and reduces to 0.75% on net assets over £700 million. In addition, the fixed annual fee of £600,000 for services other than portfolio management reduced to £100,000 per annum. There is no change in the investment process as a result of the new fee arrangement.

Discount/Premium and Share Repurchases/Issues
Under the Company’s discount management policy, the Board seeks to maintain the discount in single digits in normal market conditions and will repurchase shares to help stabilise the share price discount. As the Company’s shares have been trading at a premium, the Company has not carried out any share repurchases in the reporting period and up to the date of this report.

Issuing shares increases the size of the Company, making it more liquid and allowing costs to be spread out over larger assets. The Board will approve share issues from Treasury if the Company’s shares are generally trading at a sufficient premium to ensure that the issue of shares is not dilutive and the Company’s Broker believes that the Company should be issuing shares from Treasury.

In the six months to 28 February 2019, the Company’s shares traded at a premium which was within a range of 0.5% and 4.9%. As the Company’s shares had traded at a level of premium to ensure that the issue of shares from Treasury was not dilutive, the Board authorised the issue of 4,095,000 shares which were all the shares that the Company held in Treasury. In addition, the Company issued the final 480,000 shares from a previous block listing authority. Therefore, the Company acquired a new block listing authority from the UK Listing Authority to issue up to 23,889,440 ordinary shares, effective from 15 January 2019. As at 28 February 2019, the Company had issued 1,370,000 shares from this new block listing authority.

In total, the Company issued 5,945,000 shares in the six month reporting period. Since then and as at the date of this report, the Company has issued a further 2,175,000 shares in order to meet demand.

Interim Dividend
The Board’s dividend policy is to pay dividends twice yearly in order to smooth the dividend payment for the reporting year. The Company’s revenue return for the six months to 28 February 2019 was 1.78 pence per share. The Board has declared an interim dividend of 2.10 pence per share which is 13.5% higher than the 1.85 pence per share paid as the prior interim dividend and provides a good balance between the interim and final dividend payments. This will be paid on 26 June 2019 to Shareholders on the register on 17 May 2019 (ex-dividend date 16 May 2019).

Shareholders may choose to reinvest their dividends for additional shares in the Company. Details of the Dividend Reinvestment Plan are set out in the Half-Yearly Report.

Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The Board, with the assistance of the Alternative Investment Fund Manager (FIL Investment Services (UK) Limited/the “Manager”), has developed a risk matrix which, as part of the risk management and internal controls process, identifies the key risks and uncertainties faced by the Company.

The Board categorises the principal risks and uncertainties faced by the Company into two broad categories of external and internal risks. External risks comprise of market risk, share price risk, discount control risk, regulatory risk and cybercrime risk. Internal risks comprise of investment management risk and operational risks (such as service providers). Information on each of these risks is given in the Strategic Report section of the Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2018. A copy of the Annual Report can be found on the Company’s pages of the Manager’s website at www.fidelity.co.uk/specialvalues.

These risks and uncertainties have not materially changed in the six months to 28 February 2019 and are equally applicable to the remaining six months of the Company’s financial year.

Transactions with the Manager and Related Parties
The Manager has delegated the Company’s portfolio management and the role of Company Secretary to FIL Investments International. Transactions with the Manager and related party transactions with the Directors are disclosed in Note 13 to the Financial Statements below.

Going Concern
The Directors have considered the Company’s investment objective, policy, strategy, the Company’s projected income and expenditure and noted that the portfolio of investments is considered to be mainly readily realisable securities. Therefore, the Directors believe that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these Financial Statements.

Continuation votes are held every three years and the next continuation vote will be put to Shareholders at the Annual General Meeting to be held in December 2019.

By order of the BoardFIL Investments International
30 April 2019

Directors’ Responsibility Statement

The Disclosure and Transparency Rules (“DTR”) of the UK Listing Authority require the Directors to confirm their responsibilities in relation to the preparation and publication of the Interim Management Report and Financial Statements.

The Directors confirm to the best of their knowledge that:

a) the condensed set of Financial Statements contained within the Half-Yearly Report has been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Council’s Standard: FRS 104: Interim Financial Reporting; and

b) the Interim Management Report, together with the Portfolio Manager’s Half-Yearly Review above, includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7R and 4.2.8R.

In line with previous years, the Half-Yearly Report has not been audited by the Company’s Independent Auditor.

The Half-Yearly Report was approved by the Board on 30 April 2019 and the above responsibility statement was signed on its behalf by Andy Irvine, Chairman.

Twenty Largest Investments

as at 28 February 2019

The Gross Asset Exposures shown below measure exposure to market price movements as a result of owning shares and derivative instruments. The Balance Sheet Value is the actual value of the portfolio. Where a contract for difference (“CFD”) is held, the Balance Sheet Value reflects the profit or loss on the contract since it was opened and is based on how much the share price of the underlying share has moved.

Long Exposures – shares unless otherwise stated

Gross Asset Exposure

Balance
Sheet
Value
£’000

£’000

%1

CRH (long CFD)

Construction & Materials

34,003

4.9

1,781

Royal Dutch Shell (shares and long CFD)

Oil & Gas Producers

33,200

4.8

16,577

Roche Holdings

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology

32,597

4.8

32,597

John Laing Group

Financial Services

30,621

4.5

30,621

BP

Oil & Gas Producers

30,494

4.4

30,494

Pearson

Media

29,732

4.3

29,732

Phoenix Group Holdings

Life Insurance

28,797

4.2

28,797

Citigroup

Banks

28,569

4.2

28,569

RBS Group

Banks

25,414

3.7

25,414

Meggitt

Aerospace & Defense

21,437

3.1

21,437

Serco Group

Support Services

19,290

2.8

19,290

Aviva (long CFD)

Life Insurance

17,238

2.5

(1,739)

AIB Group (long CFD)

Banks

16,347

2.4

(1,692)

C&C Group

Beverages

14,910

2.2

14,910

Lloyds Banking Group

Banks

14,777

2.2

14,777

CLS Holdings

Real Estate Investment & Services

14,535

2.1

14,535

Legal & General Group

Life Insurance

14,393

2.1

14,393

International Personal Finance (shares and fixed interest bond)

Financial Services

13,003

1.9

13,003

Micro Focus International

Software & Computer Services

12,009

1.8

12,009

Bank of Ireland Group (long CFD)

Banks

11,985

1.7

(3,721)

Twenty largest long exposures

443,351

64.6

341,784

Other long exposures

319,615

46.6

261,569

---------------

---------------

---------------

Total long exposures before hedges (97 holdings)

762,966

111.2

603,353

---------------

---------------

---------------

Less: hedging exposure

FTSE 250 Index Future March 2019

(34,138)

(5.0)

(2,038)

---------------

---------------

---------------

Total long exposures after the netting of hedges

728,828

106.2

601,315

=========

=========

=========

Add: short exposures

Short CFDs (2 holdings)

4,394

0.7

(191)

Gross Asset Exposure2

733,222

106.9

---------------

---------------

Portfolio Fair Value3

601,124

---------------

Net current assets (excluding derivative assets and liabilities)

85,022

Shareholders' Funds

686,146

=========

1. Gross Asset Exposure is expressed as a percentage of Shareholders’ Funds.

Net return/(loss) on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation

5,278

(49,621)

(44,343)

15,627

43,166

58,793

3,010

15,722

18,732

Finance costs

(389)

–

(389)

(342)

–

(342)

(131)

–

(131)

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

Net return/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation

4,889

(49,621)

(44,732)

15,285

43,166

58,451

2,879

15,722

18,601

Taxation on return on ordinary activities

7

(113)

–

(113)

(177)

–

(177)

(40)

–

(40)

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

Net return/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation for the period

4,776

(49,621)

(44,845)

15,108

43,166

58,274

2,839

15,722

18,561

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

Return/(loss) per ordinary share

8

1.78p

(18.48p)

(16.70p)

5.70p

16.29p

21.99p

1.07p

5.94p

7.01p

=========

=========

=========

=========

=========

=========

=========

=========

=========

* Derivative expenses in the prior periods have been reallocated from investment and derivative income. There is no effect on the net return/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation for the period.

The Company does not have any other comprehensive income. Accordingly the net return/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation for the period is also the total comprehensive income for the period and no separate Statement of Comprehensive Income has been presented.

The total column of this statement represents the Income Statement of the Company. The revenue and capital columns are supplementary and presented for information purposes as recommended by the Statement of Recommended Practice issued by the AIC.

No operations were acquired or discontinued in the period and all items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.

Statement of Changes in Equity

for the six months ended 28 February 2019

Notes

share
capital
£’000

share
premium
account
£’000

capital
redemption
reserve
£’000

other non-
distributable
reserve
£’000

capital
reserve
£’000

revenue
reserve
£’000

total
Shareholders’
funds
£’000

Six months ended 28 February 2019 (unaudited)

Total Shareholders’ funds at 31 August 2018

13,532

95,940

3,256

5,152

591,842

15,248

724,970

Issue of ordinary shares from Treasury

11

–

65

–

–

9,821

–

9,886

New ordinary shares issued

11

93

4,475

–

–

–

–

4,568

Net (loss)/return on ordinary activities after taxation for the period

–

–

–

–

(49,621)

4,776

(44,845)

Dividend paid to Shareholders

9

–

–

–

–

–

(8,433)

(8,433)

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

Total Shareholders’ funds at 28 February 2019

13,625

100,480

3,256

5,152

552,042

11,591

686,146

=========

=========

=========

=========

=========

=========

=========

Year ended 31 August 2018 (audited)

Total Shareholders’ funds at 31 August 2017

13,532

95,896

3,256

5,152

543,218

12,448

673,502

Issue of ordinary shares from Treasury

11

–

44

–

–

5,458

–

5,502

Net return on ordinary activities after taxation for the year

–

–

–

–

43,166

15,108

58,274

Dividend paid to Shareholders

9

–

–

–

–

–

(12,308)

(12,308)

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

Total Shareholders’ funds at 31 August 2018

13,532

95,940

3,256

5,152

591,842

15,248

724,970

=========

=========

=========

=========

=========

=========

=========

Six months ended 28 February 2018 (unaudited)

Total Shareholders’ funds at 31 August 2017

13,532

95,896

3,256

5,152

543,218

12,448

673,502

Net return on ordinary activities after taxation for the period

–

–

–

–

15,722

2,839

18,561

Dividend paid to Shareholders

9

–

–

–

–

–

(7,406)

(7,406)

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

Total Shareholders’ funds at 28 February 2018

13,532

95,896

3,256

5,152

558,940

7,881

684,657

=========

=========

=========

=========

=========

=========

=========

Balance Sheet

at 28 February 2019

Company number 2972628

Notes

28.02.19
unaudited
£’000

31.08.18
audited
£’000

28.02.18
unaudited
£’000

Fixed assets

Investments

10

611,412

704,997

657,239

=========

=========

=========

Current assets

Derivative instruments

10

2,373

4,939

10,205

Debtors

2,525

4,043

1,314

Amounts held at futures clearing houses and brokers

13,585

2,235

1,858

Fidelity Institutional Liquidity Fund

61,450

14,588

16,306

Cash at bank

8,417

2,303

2,559

---------------

---------------

---------------

88,350

28,108

32,242

=========

=========

=========

Creditors

Derivative instruments

10

(12,661)

(5,371)

(1,695)

Other creditors

(955)

(2,764)

(3,129)

---------------

---------------

---------------

(13,616)

(8,135)

(4,824)

=========

=========

=========

Net current assets

74,734

19,973

27,418

=========

=========

=========

Net assets

686,146

724,970

684,657

=========

=========

=========

Capital and reserves

Share capital

11

13,625

13,532

13,532

Share premium account

100,480

95,940

95,896

Capital redemption reserve

3,256

3,256

3,256

Other non-distributable reserve

5,152

5,152

5,152

Capital reserve

552,042

591,842

558,940

Revenue reserve

11,591

15,248

7,881

---------------

---------------

---------------

Total Shareholders' funds

686,146

724,970

684,657

=========

=========

=========

Net asset value per ordinary share

12

251.80p

271.98p

258.85p

=========

=========

=========

Notes to the Financial Statements

1 Principal Activity
Fidelity Special Values PLC is an Investment Company incorporated in England and Wales with a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange. The Company’s registration number is 2972628, and its registered office is Beech Gate, Millfield Lane, Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 6RP. The Company has been approved by HM Revenue & Customs as an Investment Trust under Section 1158 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 and intends to conduct its affairs so as to continue to be approved.

2 Publication of Non-statutory Accounts
The Financial Statements in this half-yearly financial report have not been audited by the Company’s Independent Auditor and do not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”). The financial information for the year ended 31 August 2018 is extracted from the latest published Financial Statements of the Company. Those Financial Statements were delivered to the Registrar of Companies and included the Independent Auditor’s Report which was unqualified and did not contain a statement under either section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Act.

3 Basis of Preparation
The Company prepares its Financial Statements on a going concern basis and in accordance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (“UK GAAP”) and FRS 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, issued by the Financial Reporting Council. The Financial Statements are also prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Financial Statements of Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts (“SORP”) issued by the Association of Investment Companies (“AIC”), in November 2014 and updated in February 2018 with consequential amendments. FRS 104: Interim Financial Reporting has also been applied in preparing this condensed set of Financial Statements. The accounting policies followed are consistent with those disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2018.

4 Income

six months
ended
28.02.19
unaudited
£’000

year ended
31.08.18
audited
£’000

six months
ended
28.02.18
unaudited
£’000

Investment income

UK dividends

3,968

13,273

3,433

UK scrip dividends

405

403

41

Overseas dividends

2,344

4,282

1,607

Overseas scrip dividends

236

990

700

Debt security interest

108

299

160

---------------

---------------

---------------

7,061

19,247

5,941

=========

=========

=========

Derivative income

Dividends received on long CFDs

1,311

4,221

986

---------------

---------------

---------------

Investment and derivative income

8,372

23,468

6,927

=========

=========

=========

Other interest

Interest received on CFDs

16

79

46

Interest received on deposits and money market funds

125

287

70

---------------

---------------

---------------

141

366

116

=========

=========

=========

Total investment and derivative income and other interest*

8,513

23,834

7,043

=========

=========

=========

* Derivative expenses have been reallocated to Note 5.

Special dividends of £3,779,000 (year ended 31 August 2018: £7,023,000 and six months ended 28 February 2018: £6,152,000) have been recognised in capital.

FIL Investment Services (UK) Limited is the Company’s Alternative Investment Fund Manager and has delegated portfolio management to FIL Investments International (“FII”). Both companies are Fidelity group companies.

From 1 September 2018, the Company adopted a new fee arrangement which reduced the previous fee of 0.875% of net assets to a new tiered fee basis of 0.85% on the first £700 million of net assets and 0.75% of net assets in excess of £700 million.

In addition, the fixed annual fee for services other than portfolio management was reduced from £600,000 to £100,000 per annum.

7 Taxation on Return on Ordinary Activities

six months
ended
28.02.19
unaudited
£’000

year ended
31.08.18
audited
£’000

six months
ended
28.02.18
unaudited
£’000

Overseas taxation

113

177

40

---------------

---------------

---------------

Total taxation charge for the period

113

177

40

=========

=========

=========

8 Return/(loss) per Ordinary Share

six months
ended
28.02.19
unaudited

year ended
31.08.18
audited

six months
ended
28.02.18
unaudited

Revenue return per ordinary share

1.78p

5.70p

1.07p

Capital (loss)/return per ordinary share

(18.48p)

16.29p

5.94p

---------------

---------------

---------------

Total (loss)/return per ordinary share

(16.70p)

21.99p

7.01p

=========

=========

=========

The return/(loss) per ordinary share is based on the net return/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation for the period divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares held during the period, as shown below:

£’000

£’000

£’000

Net revenue return on ordinary activities after taxation

4,776

15,108

2,839

Net capital (loss)/return on ordinary activities after taxation

(49,621)

43,166

15,722

---------------

---------------

---------------

Net total (loss)/return on ordinary activates after taxation

(44,845)

58,274

18,561

=========

=========

=========

number

number

number

Weighted average number of ordinary shares held

268,482,436

265,040,439

264,499,480

============

============

============

9 Dividends Paid to Shareholders

six months
ended
28.02.19
unaudited
£’000

year ended
31.08.18
audited
£’000

six months
ended
28.02.18
unaudited
£’000

Final dividend of 3.15 pence per ordinary share paid for the year ended 31 August 2018

8,433

–

–

Interim dividend of 1.85 pence per ordinary share paid for the year ended 31 August 2018

–

4,902

–

Final dividend of 2.80 pence per ordinary share paid for the year ended 31 August 2017

–

7,406

7,406

---------------

---------------

---------------

Total dividends paid

8,433

12,308

7,406

=========

=========

=========

The Company has declared an interim dividend for the six month period to 28 February 2019 of 2.10 pence per ordinary share (2018: 1.85 pence). The interim dividend will be paid on 26 June 2019 to Shareholders on the register at 17 May 2019 (ex-dividend date 16 May 2019). The total cost of this interim dividend, which has not been included as a liability in these Financial Statements, is £5,768,000 (2018: £4,902,000). This amount is based on the number of ordinary shares in issue held at the date of this report.

10 Fair Value Hierarchy
The Company is required to disclose the fair value hierarchy that classifies its financial instruments measured at fair value at one of three levels, according to the relative reliability of the inputs used to estimate the fair values.

Classification

Input

Level 1

Valued using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

Level 2

Valued by reference to valuation techniques using observable inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1

Level 3

Valued by reference to valuation techniques using inputs that are not based on observable market data

Categorisation within the hierarchy has been determined on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the relevant asset. The table below sets out the Company’s fair value hierarchy:

28 February 2019 (unaudited)

level 1
£’000

level 2
£’000

level 3
£’000

total
£’000

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Investments

605,985

3,494

1,933

611,412

Derivative instrument assets

–

2,373

–

2,373

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

605,985

5,867

1,933

613,785

=========

=========

=========

=========

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

Derivative instrument liabilities

(2,038)

(10,623)

–

(12,661)

=========

=========

=========

=========

31 August 2018 (audited)

level 1
£’000

level 2
£’000

level 3
£’000

total
£’000

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Investments

699,052

4,489

1,456

704,997

Derivative instrument assets

1,058

2,845

1,036

4,939

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

700,110

7,334

2,492

709,936

=========

=========

=========

=========

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

Derivative instrument liabilities

–

(5,371)

–

(5,371)

=========

=========

=========

=========

28 February 2018 (unaudited)

level 1
£’000

level 2
£’000

level 3
£’000

total
£’000

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Investments

641,088

4,477

11,674

657,239

Derivative instrument assets

–

10,205

–

10,205

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

641,088

14,682

11,674

667,444

=========

=========

=========

=========

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

Derivative instrument liabilities

–

(1,695)

–

(1,695)

=========

=========

=========

=========

11 Share Capital

28 February 2019
unaudited

31 August 2018
audited

28 February 2018
unaudited

number of
shares

£’000

number of
shares

£’000

number of
shares

£’000

Issued, allotted and fully paid ordinary shares of 5 pence each

Held outside Treasury

Beginning of the period

266,549,480

13,328

264,499,480

13,225

264,499,480

13,225

Ordinary Shares issued out of Treasury

4,095,000

204

2,050,000

103

–

–

New Ordinary Shares issued

1,850,000

93

–

–

–

–

End of the period

272,494,480

13,625

266,549,480

13,328

264,499,480

13,225

============

============

============

============

============

============

Held in Treasury*

Beginning of the period

4,095,000

204

6,145,000

307

6,145,000

307

Ordinary Shares issued out of Treasury

(4,095,000)

(204)

(2,050,000)

(103)

–

–

============

============

============

============

============

============

End of the period

–

–

4,095,000

204

6,145,000

307

============

============

============

============

============

============

Total share capital

272,494,480

13,625

270,644,480

13,532

270,644,480

13,532

============

============

============

============

============

============

* Ordinary shares held in Treasury carry no rights to vote, to receive a dividend or to participate in a winding up of the Company.

During the period a total of 5,945,000 ordinary shares (year ended 31 August 2018: 2,050,000 shares and six months to 28 February 2018: nil) were issued. The proceeds from the issue of ordinary shares out of Treasury of £9,821,000 (year ended 31 August 2018: £5,458,000 and six month period to 28 February 2018: nil) was credited to capital reserve. The total premium received in the period on the issue of new ordinary shares of £4,475,000 and on the issue of ordinary shares out of Treasury of £65,000 was credited to the share premium account (year ended 31 August 2018: £44,000 and six month period to 28 February 2018: nil).

12 Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share
The net asset value per ordinary share is based on net assets of £686,146,000 (31 August 2018: £724,970,000 and 28 February 2018: £684,657,000) and on 272,494,480 (31 August 2018: 266,549,480 and 28 February 2018: 264,499,480) ordinary shares, being the number of ordinary shares of 5 pence each held at the period end.

It is the Company’s policy that any shares held in Treasury will only be reissued at a premium to net asset value per share and, therefore, shares held in Treasury have no dilutive effect. As at 23 January 2019, there were no shares held in Treasury.

13 Transactions with the Manager and Related Parties
FIL Investment Services (UK) Limited is the Company’s Alternative Investment Fund Manager and has delegated portfolio management and the role of company secretary to FIL Investments International (“FII”). Both companies are Fidelity group companies. Details of the fee arrangements are given in Note 6. During the period, fees for portfolio management services of £2,795,000 (year ended 31 August 2018: £6,107,000 and six months ended 28 February 2018: £2,994,000) and fees for non-portfolio management services of £50,000 (year ended 31 August 2018: £600,000 and six months ended 28 February 2018: £300,000) were payable to FII. Non-portfolio management fees include company secretarial, fund accounting, taxation, promotional and corporate advisory services. At the Balance Sheet date, fees for portfolio management services of £441,000 (31 August 2018: £1,083,000 and 28 February 2018: £967,000) and fees for non-portfolio management services of £17,000 (31 August 2018: £100,000 and 28 February 2018: £100,000) were accrued and included in other creditors. FII also provides the Company with marketing services. The total amount payable for these services during the period was £79,000 (year ended 31 August 2018: £139,000 and 28 February 2018: £65,000). At the Balance Sheet date, marketing services of £9,000 (31 August 2018: £7,000 and 28 February 2018: £23,000) were accrued and included in other creditors.

As at 28 February 2019, the Board consisted of five Non-Executive Directors (as shown in the Directory in the Half-Yearly Report), all of whom are considered to be independent by the Board apart from Nicky McCabe who was employed by FIL Limited until 31 December 2017. None of the Directors have a service contract with the Company. The Chairman receives an annual fee of £41,000, the Audit Committee Chairman an annual fee of £31,750 and each other Director an annual fee of £27,000. The following members of the Board hold ordinary shares in the Company: Andy Irvine 75,000 shares, Sharon Brown 15,600 shares, Dean Buckley 30,000 shares, Nigel Foster 70,000 shares and Nicky McCabe 31,926 shares.

Neither the contents of the Company's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.

ENDS

A copy of the Half-Yearly Report will shortly be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will be available for inspection at www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM.

The Half-Yearly Report will also be available on the Company's website at www.fidelity.co.uk/specialvalues where up to date information on the Company, including daily NAV and share prices, factsheets and other information can also be found.

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